CILANTRO CORIANDER GROW GUIDE

SEED PLANTING TIPS

Botanical name: Coriandrum sativum
Life cycle: Herbaceous annual
Hardiness zones: 2-11
Planting season: Spring, fall
Days to maturity: 30-65 days; can begin harvesting when 6" tall
Depth to plant seeds: 1/2" deep
Days to germinate (sprout): 10-21 days
Germination soil temps: 50F-65F
Spacing between plants: 6"-8" apart
Spacing between rows: 18"-24" apart
# of plants per sq. ft.: Appx. 4 plants per sq. ft.
Soil types: Sandy, loamy, rich, moist, well-drained
Soil pH: 6.1-7.8
Sun needs: Full sun, part shade, full shade
Water needs: Average
Cold stratify: No
Frost tolerant: Yes
Heat tolerant: No
Drought tolerant: No
Deer resistant: Yes
Culinary use: Yes
Medicinal use: Yes

How to Grow & Harvest Cilantro

When to Plant

If you're in a frost free period, and without extreme heat during the summer, you'll have no problem growing cilantro. Basic rule of thumb is if you are in a mild climate, grow cilantro during the summer, and if you're in a tropical climate, stick to growing it during the dry and cooler season.

How to Plant

All you really need is reasonable soil that you can keep well watered. Always grow cilantro from seed, directly where you need it. Usually it doesn't transplant well. The stress of transplanting cilantro, usually causes it to go straight to seed. You may not get any leaves at all!

Cilantro grows a fairly large taproot, and small seedling pots or soil pellets aren't deep enough to accommodate it.

Direct sow your cilantro seeds into the ground, and keep them well watered. Try growing it in rows for an easy harvest or spread the seed over a wide area and rake it in. Just remember cilantro plants can grow up to 2 feet tall. Leave about 5 cm between plants if you're growing it for the leaves. More if you're going to allow them to flower and go to seed.

When to Harvest

Harvest the cilantro leaves around the base of the plant. Just make sure the plant is fairly established before you start harvesting so it will be able to handle the stress and recover as it continues to grow. Once the flowers have gone to seed, start to re-sow more seeds. That way you won't run out and have a continual harvest of fresh cilantro on your hands. You can harvest the leaves or the entire plant at once.